Waite Elementary Parent Update

Dear Waite Families:

I hope everyone enjoyed a beautiful holiday season and meaningful time with family and friends. Waite was a very festive place leading up to the holiday break! It was fun to see how excited the kids were in anticipation of the holidays and the winter break. The holiday spirit days were a big hit and many students enjoyed adventures with our school Elf on the Shelf, R.E.W. (Ralph E. Waite) and wrote many gratitude messages to show appreciation for the Waite staff. It was a very exciting month of learning and fun at Waite Elementary School.

There will be no school next Friday, January 16 due to a staff professional day. There is also no school on Monday, January 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Saturday, January 24 is the annual Medina City Schools Pancake Breakfast and Spotlight on Students. I hope your family will join us.

Medical Reminder:

A reminder that medications for students must be dropped off in the office in advance and medication paperwork must be completed. Parents are not permitted to send medications with their children to school or drop off medication during the school day (without completing the required paperwork).

Also, please send medical protocol paperwork in the case of a concussion to the main office so this information can be disseminated to appropriate staff.

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Mr. Mattie

Waite, Principal

Upcoming Important Dates!

1/1/26: Happy New Year

1/5/26: School Resumed

1/6/26: Yearbook Cover Contest Begins

1/12/26: Sledding into Stories Week Begins (Celebration of Literacy) & Terra Nova Testing Week Begins, Grade 2 & Star Testing Begins

1/13/26: PTO Meeting, 7:30, Library

1/14/26: Family Literacy Night (Read as a Family at Waite), 6:30

1/15/26: EARLY RELEASE, Dismissal at 2:30

1/16/26: NO SCHOOL, Staff PD Day & Yearbook Sales Begin

1/19/26: NO SCHOOL, MLK Day

1/21/26: PTO Dine to Donate – Chick Fil A

1/23/26: Yearbook Cover Contest Ends

1/24/26: District Pancake Breakfast/Spotlight on Students, MHS & Waite Choir to Perform at the Breakfast, 9:15

1/27/26: Parent and Counselor Chat, 6:00, Fenn

Sledding into Stories! January 12-15

Sledding into Stories!

Next week, January 12-15, Waite students will be "Sledding into Stories" as we celebrate the joy of reading! From Monday through Thursday (no school for students on Friday), students will enjoy fun, reading-themed spirit days:

Monday: Dress like your favorite book character
Tuesday: Bring your favorite book
Wednesday: Read with a buddy & dress like a buddy
Thursday: Cozy Day (pajamas, slippers, and flashlight encouraged!)

Families are invited to join us for Family Reading Night on Wednesday, January 14th, from 6:00–7:30 PM. Enjoy hot cocoa, family reading time in the gym, and a Book Swap in the cafeteria. Students are encouraged to bring a gently used book to swap for another one, and families are welcome to donate additional books.

Book donations may be sent to the school Monday through Wednesday morning with your student(s) or brought directly to the Book Swap. All students who donate will receive a bookmark, and any books remaining after the event will be donated to the community.

We look forward to celebrating reading with our Waite families!

A very special thanks to Mrs. Waugh for planning and organizing this event for our students!

PTO Holiday Shop

Toys for Tots Collection

PTO Dine to Donate at Guy’s Pizza

Picture Retake Day/Candids/Groups

Spirit Days Began

Choir Karaoke Party

Field Trip Grade 5, PAC Encore Performance

Classroom Holiday Parties

Winter Break

January Counselor Corner

Friendships: Parent and Counselor Chat, Fenn - 1/27/26 - 6:00-7:00 PM

Date: Tuesday, January 27th
Time: 6:00–7:00 PM
Location: Fenn Elementary Cafeteria
Topic: Friendships — helping children build healthy, kind, and resilient peer relationships
Podcast for this month’s topic: : How to help kids navigate friendship, with Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD | Speaking of Psychology

RSVP: Please let us know you’re coming by completing this short form

If you are an approved volunteer, we are looking for a coach for the spring Girls on the Run Season. The coaching commitment is two days a week from 3:30-5pm for 8 weeks starting March 9th. The season ends with the 5k. You don’t have to be a runner, and all lessons/trainings are provided! GOTR does offer an incentive for coaches - 1/2 off your daughter’s registration fees.

Medina City Schools announces its annual Community Pancake Breakfast and Spotlight on Students on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the main cafeteria at Medina High School, 777 E. Union Street. Enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bacon, syrup, milk, juice, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

Tickets:

$5 per person available for purchase online at www.medinabees.org. Tickets are also available at both Medina Buehler’s locations from January 5, 2026, to January 24, 2026.
FREE for senior citizens aged 60 and older.

Event Highlights:

Student Artwork Showcase: Artwork from students across all grade levels will be featured.

Live Student Performances: Entertainment will be held on the Performing Arts Center’s main stage from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Performance Schedule:

9:15 AM–9:30 AM: Waite Elementary

*Performances are subject to change

This event is made possible by the sponsors- Acme Fresh Market, Borden, Discount Drug Mart, and Huntington Bank.

Proceeds:
All net proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Medina City Schools Foundation, supporting programs and services for students and staff, including the Joyce B. Ebner Tutoring Center located at Medina High School.

About the Medina City Schools Foundation: The Medina City Schools Foundation was established in 1984 to support and enhance learning opportunities for the students in the Medina City School District. The Foundation is an independent organization comprised of committed community members who support programs that benefit our students in collaboration with the teachers and staff of the Medina City Schools. The Foundation is a private organization, not directly affiliated with the school board or the school administration. It is incorporated under Ohio laws as a non-profit organization. It is funded by various members of the Medina area through the generous individual support and community support of our annual fundraising activities.